I would like to take this opportunity to introduce myself. My name is Tom Lucarelli and I was approved at a September meeting to fill out the remainder of the president’s term that was recently vacated. My wife Barb and I have two sons, Marco and Gino, that will be first and second year Peewees respectively. We have been involved with the IHYA for the past seven years and I have been personally involved with coaching each of those years. I played youth, high school ad junior college in Virginia on the Iron Range. Ok, enough about me.

As I see it, I’m sure it’s clear to all IHYA members, we need to do everything we can to increase the numbers of skaters at all current levels, but especially the initiation level. If our foundation is solid the program will be solid.

We all need to do our part to help out in the area; this is what the association is about, youth hockey. We have to focus on doing all we can to keep the emphasis on the kids. Any and all ideas and suggestions are welcome. Open dialog must be maintained between the IYHA board and the IYHA membership at large. In doing so, the association can only become stronger.

Please keep in mind that any ideas that are to be brought to the board at the monthly meetings must be presented prior to the meeting to be put on the agenda.

See you at the rink.

Tom

More Volunteer Opportunities:

Tournament planning for Thanksgiving and January has begun. Many thanks to those who are already helping, BUT we need more volunteers for the planning of the tournament. Please call me if you are available to help. If I don't get volunteers, I will begin making calls to line up help. Volunteers needed for: Working on trade show, Securing prizes for raffle, setting up tournament programs, etc,

Each team will be asked to participate in the January and Thanksgiving tournaments to fill our volunteer slots. These consist of rink director, penalty box, score keeper, time keeper, trade show volunteer, front desk, cashier, concession area clean up, etc.

Corporate sponsorship is virtually an untapped area of opportunity for IYHA. If you would like to help in this area of writing letters and contacting companies, then please contact me for further information. Again, if I don't get any volunteers, I will begin calling association members.

Schwann’s Fundraising - This could be a very profitable fundraiser for IYHA. The sales are done on-line (no door to door) and Schwann’s does the delivering for us. We just need someone to step up to get this organized for IYHA. Call Cheryl Mason for more details! Phone 651.639.1543, Email

From Jeanne Falconer, Registration:

These are our numbers of players that have registered (to date 10-13-2006):

Initiation Program

71

U8

8

U10

22

U12

23

U14

9

Squirts

49

PeeWees

34

Bantams

36

Total

252

Irondale Youth Hockey Association (IYHA) Board Members 2006-2007

President

Tom Lucarelli

(2005-2007)

763-792-4710

Vice President

Cheryl Mason

(2006-2008)

651-639-1543 (h)

Treasurer

Tom O’Keefe

(2006-2008)

651-785-0266 (h)

Secretary

Niki Gjere

(2005-2007)

612-273-6439 (w)

651-270-8551 (cell)

612-527-7437 (pager)

Ice Commissioner

Jackie Rog

(2004-2007)

651-636-6978 (h)

Boys Program Coordinator

Mark Mohar

(2005-2008)

651-639-1908 (h)

Girls Program Coordinator

Mike Nundahl

(2005-2008)

651-633-8287 (h)

Initiation Coordinator

Bob Gabler

(2006-2009)

651-697-4708 (h)

Equipment

Randy Bortot

(2004-2007)

763-784-9557 (h)

952-475-4045 (Work)

Registration

Jeanne Falconer

(2006-2009)

763-458-5946 (cell)

651-486-1235 (w)

District Representative

Tom Welty

(2004-2007)

763-780-4865 (h)

612-508-4833 (cell)

Non-Board Position:

ACE Coordinator

Open

Player Development Committee

IYHA Board Meetings are open meetings.

Please feel free to come to the meetings. If you wish to have a copy of any information which is distributed at any meeting, please email or call Niki and it will be mailed to you. Upcoming dates for 2005 Board meetings are the

third Thursday of every month at 6:30 p.m. Our meetings have at in the New Brighton Family Service Center.

2006: October 26, November 16, December 14 (December meeting week changed due to holiday).

NOTE: If you wish to be on the agenda for the meeting, please contact Tom Lucarelli.

Lake Region Board Meetings:

Lake Region Hockey meetings are open meetings. Contact Jeanne Falconer for dates and times of the next meetings.

Sponsorships:

Sponsors for teams are listed below. This part of the newsletter will continue throughout the rest of the IYHA season. Please notify Niki Gjere of any additions or corrections. (Please forward information about websites and addresses, etc.) Many thanks to our sponsors!

One person has informed Cheryl is interested in being President. It is Tom Lucarelli. He has worked with several teams. Discussion about experience with hockey.

Girls Coordinator Position:

Mike Nundahl has expressed an interest in this position. He has three girls in the program. Will be coming to meeting later.

Old business:

Player and Coach Development: Mark Mohar and Player and Coach Development Committee.

Player and Coach Development Committee recommends that Tadd Tuomie be appointed as the Director of Player and Coach Development. Worked through the summer and had an Open Forum of presentations of the two finalists. Motion to accept Tadd Tuomie as the Director of Player and Coach Development, and to enter into negotiations (MM) (NG). Discussion. In May the Board gave authorization to the Player and Coach Development Committee to recruit and narrow the candidates for the position. The negotiations would be conducted by the members of the Player Development Committee. Question about why the Girls High School team coach was not represented in the interview process. Did not want to bring him in the middle of the interview process. The Boy’s High School coach was involved before the interviews started. Need to make sure that everybody is involved and on board with the decision—and support him and the efforts of the Player and Coach Development Committee. We can no longer accept that coaches decide to utilize or not utilize the position. Position description is on the website and has been published in the newsletter—if anybody would like to have another copy, please notify Niki. Question about the possible use of the Herb Brooks dryland facility and training—several members have asked about utilizing this option; the Committee has not discussed that yet. Treasurer will participate in the negotiation process. Will divide cost of Director of Player and Coach Development—to the different levels. Motion amended to read: Motion to accept Tadd Tuomie as the recommendation for Director of Player and Coach Development, and to the Player and Coach Development Committee members to negotiate with Mr. Tuomie; negotiations to be completed before the next Board of Directors Meeting; all Program Coordinators will be informed of the negotiation points before the negotiation recommendation is finalized to the Board of Directors (MM) (NG). Motion carried.

Follow up from working meeting:

Cheryl had concerns that previous board meeting topic was not completed. There was a working meeting, and no final action that was taken. Discussion of waiver process. There was a lot of discussion at the working meeting. Edison had asked Mark Mohar for players. We have not turned any players away. The sticking point was allowing players to try out for the A team, which is against our policy. Motion to allow the Tri City Pee Wee players to come in and fill open B or C slots (CM) (RB), Discussion. Motion retracted (CM), (RB) Motion tabled.

Tom Lucarelli—Introduced self. Involved with the program for 7 years. Has two PeeWee players that are first year and second year. Has coached at every level; has played hockey in the Iron Range; has coached Shoreview Baseball. Interested in helping out in any capacity. Thinks has an idea of how much time is involved in the role. Would like to coach one more year of hockey with his sons. Discussion about role responsibilities.

Motion to elect Tom Lucarelli to the Position of President to fill the open term (TO) (RB) full president for remaining term. Motion carried.

Involved in the Association since son was little, is now a first year Bantam. Now has 3 girls ages 10, 8, and 6. Has participated in the Girls Committee since Chris Tahti had stepped down from position. Several people have approached Mike and said he would be a good candidate. Is interested in role, and has been mulling over this for some time. Motion to elect Mike Nundahl as our new Girls Program Coordinator (TW) (RB). Discussion. Motion carried.

Restatement of the motion:

Motion that was tabled, restated: Motion to waive our policy for one year only; for the Tri City Pee Wees only; for the second year Pee Wees to be able to try out for the A level; the entire team / number of Pee Wee Players (all or none); contingent on President of their Association and the District Director approval (TO) (RB), Discussion. Motion carried. Tom will contact the Tri-City president.

Fundraising—two pancake breakfasts—one at Applebee’s, one at community center, has not been set up yet.

On October 12th need to have players age 12 and over to sell programs at the Minnesota Wild game. Will generate approximately $1000 or more for Association. Ice is worked out. 14 adults and 26 players. Will work out with Boys and Girls Coordinators.

Tournament—had meeting on Monday night. Very good meeting. Managers’ meetings/treasurer meetings. Monday October 16th—time to be determined. Will ask Super Rink for a room.

Raised $1500 for internal financial assistance, half to player development.

Treasurer: Tom O’Keefe

Budget information distributed. Discussion. Motion to approve budget item 7 (TW) (MM), motion carried. Motion to accept budget 4a-f (TO)(BG), motion carried. (Entire budget was approved as presented, some parts had been approved in previous meeting; as of this time, the entire budget has been approved. There is a $56,000 increase in expenses—this represents a 10% increase in ice hours. Reviewed charts and information that was presented. Will separate out Lake Region Tournament and Lake Region donations. Will work with the treasurers for team billing.

District Representative: Tom Welty

Email sent out with information (Sent out previously.)

Need to forward two names for Pee Wee Coordinator. Pilot program—going to monitor what the teams are doing—when they are practicing, will pay for some Ice for MN Hockey to do the testing. One A Pee wee team in District one to do that. Check who coaches and managers are. May have some benefits.

Boys Coordinator Report: Mark Mohar.

Warmups are in progress. Many thanks to George Mohar, Mark Hentges, and Jeff Martin for filling in. Players will be called October 11th after school finishes for the day. 44 squirts w 5-6 goalies ABC, 31 Pee Wees AB (5 goalies); Bantam AC 33 players, 2 goalies. Possible to get 3 Bantams from Edison—they have 8 or 9 total. They will have the others that we don’t get to Washburn or Richfield.

Tom Welty Girls Program Committee. Roughly 22-23 U 12, and roughly the same number of U 10s. Recruiting event on Saturday. Mike Durheim is working on recruiting. In the future, need to make it more like a practice. Bob will have the waivers for the players and participants to sign.

Initiation Program Coordinator: Bob Gabler. 26 minimites. Less than 30 ABC mites signed up. Will contact people from last year. Hoping that Saturday is helpful. Coach’s meeting—looking good for all of the coaches at levels—need to have mini-mite coaches.